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From the opening game on April 15 to the last on Labor Day adventures in Pinecone Hollow Cafe I have blogged. It’s time to wrap up that adventure of research on leadership from the bottom up with this Good, Bad and Ugly critique from my cashier’s view.
The Bad
Tall Boss went off on me when I asked him if the soda machine, which was broken for 3 weeks, would be fixed.
With the exception of tools for the cooks there were no tools to make our job easier, like opening 12 cardboard boxes a night. A knife was no where to be found. I brought my own box cutter. No more manicures sacrificed.
Today’s way of doing things is the opposite of yesterdays.
The temps in the Café ranged from 95 degrees at the registers to 115 degrees at the grills. Why pay big bucks to go to a sweat lodge when you can work at the Café and get paid to sweat! It's a promise sweat will roll down your back.
The Ugly
Placido embarrassed all of us when he had a melt down and cursed where customers could hear him. At the same time he was slinging hot greasy squirrely fries into the trays so most fell on the floor where they were stepped on. Grease was tracked all over the floor so we had to walk very carefully during the busiest time of a sold-out night.
The Good
The big boys that cooked all the food were my angels. They reached boxes in high places, hefted heavy boxes I couldn’t and watched my back. And they made sure my food orders were filled in a timely fashion. Bless those guys.
Wonderful music played by great bands serenaded us as we prepped for the evening’s work. Usually it was beach music, my fave. How did they know?
Several customers tipped us.
There was usually a breeze on the ‘veranda’ on the second floor concourse, outside the Café door.
Many things happened to blog about from getting fired and rehired because the boss forgot he fired me, Hiker hit on me, and the antics of Pinces and Princesses.
And finally once on a sold out night all systems were on – everyone showed up 100%, even Princesses put their attitudes on hold for the jam. All jived perfectly – Dancing with the Stars couldn’t have done better. We created hundreds of happy fans. We proved we could work like a well-oiled machine.
And what did I get out of the whole experience? Compassion for the servers of the world who help me by doing their job, no matter what it is. I'm kinder and gentler for having been a Squirrelette for the summer of 2010.
What Would You Do?
Friday morning was sunny and cool. After a client meeting I put some things in my car and noticed a woman leaning against a car two spaces away. She moved very little, looking relaxed as tho’ she was meditating. Who meditates in a parking lot? Especially this parking lot.
It’s a very trendy upscale shopping center where customers are highly controlled, uptight and buttoned up. Their classic stylish clothes help them blend in wherever they are.
Not wanting to scare her, carefully I approached the woman. A slurred reply to asking if she was alright told me she was not. She swayed, closed her eyes and leaned against the car again. I was afraid she’d fall over into the parking lot and hurt herself. Then she could get hit and cause someone else harm. What should I do?
From her answers to my short questions she mumbled “Get Tammy in Starbucks.”
Fortunately the car she leaned against was unlocked. I don’t know if it was her car and I didn't care. I opened the back door. With my guidance she sat down on the seat. At least if she passed out, she wouldn’t get hit by a car, I thought.
Into Starbucks I went. No one was Tammy. A young mother and the barista remembered the woman, saying she was acting odd. Together the young mother and I said we didn’t know what to do. My first thought was for the woman to be out of harm’s way, then to not cause harm for someone else. And what would be any backlash on me for actions I might take. What do you do?
The young mother, unable to find her sunglasses, went to ask the woman if she had them. A few minutes later the young mother returned, saying she found the woman passed out. The young mother went to the closest store where someone called 911 and rescue was on the way.
If you were in my shoes, what would you do?
It’s a very trendy upscale shopping center where customers are highly controlled, uptight and buttoned up. Their classic stylish clothes help them blend in wherever they are.
Not wanting to scare her, carefully I approached the woman. A slurred reply to asking if she was alright told me she was not. She swayed, closed her eyes and leaned against the car again. I was afraid she’d fall over into the parking lot and hurt herself. Then she could get hit and cause someone else harm. What should I do?
From her answers to my short questions she mumbled “Get Tammy in Starbucks.”
Fortunately the car she leaned against was unlocked. I don’t know if it was her car and I didn't care. I opened the back door. With my guidance she sat down on the seat. At least if she passed out, she wouldn’t get hit by a car, I thought.
Into Starbucks I went. No one was Tammy. A young mother and the barista remembered the woman, saying she was acting odd. Together the young mother and I said we didn’t know what to do. My first thought was for the woman to be out of harm’s way, then to not cause harm for someone else. And what would be any backlash on me for actions I might take. What do you do?
The young mother, unable to find her sunglasses, went to ask the woman if she had them. A few minutes later the young mother returned, saying she found the woman passed out. The young mother went to the closest store where someone called 911 and rescue was on the way.
If you were in my shoes, what would you do?
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